I think we may have found our new favorite neighborhood sushi joint. Which when you move to a new city, is a really big deal. You’ve got to have that one place in the neighborhood that you can really count on. We’ve tried a few here and there (still lots to explore) but I was introduced to one by a friend a few weeks ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. The fish is SO good, the prices are reasonable, and it is a tiny, cozy place.

Ok fine, I went twice in one day. (Yes, ridiculous).

The restaurant is called Yatai, on the Sunset strip and it is a Japanese Sushi & Tapas restaurant. So in addition to the typical rolls, they’ve got eggplant with miso sauce, goyza, seaweed salad and an amazing tempura pumpkin with curry salt. I’m convinced it is actually kabocha squash (the rind is green, you can eat it, and kabocha squash has its roots in Japan) but regardless, it is delicious. I had to make a version at home, naturally, so instead of frying it and serving it with the salt, I roasted it with a sweet curry salt. It was one of those recipes that I just knew would turn out well.

I was right. I came close to eating the whole squash in one sitting, but decided that wasn’t the best idea. I stopped myself after a third of it.

The salty/sweet/curry flavor is amazing on the sweet squash. It is delicious right out of the oven, or as I learned, at room temperature all afternoon. I warned you!

This time of year, there is probably something we can all use a little more of.

And it isn’t cookies.

Sorry. Always the bearer of bad nutrition news….

Our Thanksgiving celebration included a number of amazing dishes (think scallop chowder and shiitake stuffing) but also had TWO kale dishes! I came armed with creamed kale and there was a delicious kale & sweet potato salad with an asian dressing. I loved it and I’m happy to report that MORE than half of my plate was filled with veggies that night. What can I say, Nutritionists tend to be high-acheivers.

Turns out it is pretty easy to make which means it can and should be on your plate soon!

You can switch up the kind of kale, depending on preference and use sweet potato, squash or whatever you have on-hand. You could also use a pre-made dressing like Annie’s Shiitake Sesame if you are short on time.

Last week, I followed a paleo diet for a day, and today I’m going Vegan! I was honestly a little nervous about it considering I’ve been loosely following the paleo plan since last week. I thought I would be hungry all the time (carbs make me hungry!). But realized many of my normal meals happen to be vegan.

As always, coffee + coconut creamer to start the morning.

After working furiously for a few hours, I was hungry and ready to eat.

Breakfast: 1/3 cup oats + 2/3 cup almond milk + 1 Tbsp peanut butter. I should have made 1/2 cup oats and another Tbsp of peanut butter but it lasted me through some errands which included finding a stamp pad to send out our wedding thank-you’s (harder than you might think), the bank, and once again, at AT&T. (Don’t ask)

Back at home I decided to head out for a quick run before eating lunch. I was going to wait until after, but realized that it would decrease my chances of actually doing it, so I just went! 2.5 mile run, 1.5 mile walk (50 minutes) in the sunshine.  

Lunch was totally random. I had some Gardein Crispy Strips in the freezer because I still hadn’t tried them (I don’t eat fake meat that often) but I loved these!! They are definitely a vegan junk-food and have quite a few ingredients, but they were super crispy and a really fun lunch. I had them with a side of arugula + eggplant + punjab eggplant. (Oh and of course sriracha)

The unpacking project of the day was to start the desk area (thanks Taster!)… a few more things to do and my work space will be complete!

The only time today that I really didn’t want to be a vegan was during cocktail hour, mainy because we have this amazing raw gouda cheese in the fridge…

But I powered through my craving and had a little plate of crackers + carrots + olives instead of cheese. (Or salami!)

Dinner was a recipe from Rachael Ray – Veggie Curry Bowls (brown rice + spinach + beans) + some sauteed mushrooms on the side. They curry bowls were disappointing – not very flavorful. I smothered it with sriracha and ate it anyway but didn’t save the leftovers.

Now I’m snacking on some dried mango and wishing I had some popcorn…but settling on a bowl of Kashi Go Lean + almond milk.

Nutrients: 70 g protein, 69 g fat, 256 g carbohydrates, 45.4 g fiber, 73 g sugar, 1,992 calories

Thoughts on my Vegan Day: Even though the grams of protein were very close to my paleo day, protein from vegetarian sources just doesn’t satisfy me the same as eggs, meat and fish do. (I wish it did!) The fiber was impressive, but I couldn’t stop snacking after dinner! I incorporate many vegan meals without even thinking twice, but I enjoy my “higher quality” protein sources and of course, cheese.

Wow, I can’t believe it is already November!

I surprisingly didn’t eat too much candy on Halloween, but did drink my share of wine and eat pizza, so I was a little slow-moving this morning. Nothing a little coffee, water and work can’t fix. Sometimes its best to just throw yourself into it!

Peet’s Coffee was completely decked out for the holidays – an overnight transformation complete with red & green sprinkled almond bark, holiday blend beans and holiday music. I’m ready for the holidays, but that seemed like a bit much!

I returned home (cousins home, we move into our place Thursday!!) and promptly made some breakfast. I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine once we get settled. My type-a personality is freaking out!

Breakfast: French Meadow Sprouted Cinnamon Bagel + pat of butter + hard boiled egg + strawberries.

Both strength and cardio were on my list today so I did a quick weight routine before we headed out to run a few errands in our new neighborhood!

Lunch: Being that it was World Vegan Day (pointed out to me by Pepperoni is not a Veg – thank you!) I really wanted to eat vegan all day, but because I don’t have my own fridge, usual food options, etc. I wasn’t able to make it the whole day. (Soon I’ll do a Vegan Day!) But, we did have an excellent vegan lunch at Veggie Grill. I’d been wanting to try Veggie Grill since I saw one of them and figured today was a perfect reason to try it out. I was starving and needed more than a salad so I tried the VG Cheeseburger, which the guy in line behind us said was amazing. I ordered it with the red cabbage slaw side and I gobbled it up in no time at all. 

Then it was time for some more work. I loooove being able to work outside. In November.

A 50 minute walk with Ruby (the dog) was “cardio” for the day. Not necessarily a great workout, but because I had a dog with me I wasn’t worried about a certain length of time or getting in so many miles, I just enjoyed the walk and the afternoon. It was really, really nice.

We made dinner tonight for my cousins and the Taster decided to make a Minnesota speciality, the Blucy. (Blue cheese stuffed hamburger) No shortage of burgers (both real and not) for me today!

Dinner: An amazingly delicious blucy sans bun + salad + sweet potato fries + sriracha mayo for dipping.

Dessert: I was gifted some unwanted halloween candy.

Now I’m sipping tea and getting ready for bed, lots to do today!

To say that I’m excited for all of the restaurants that come with a new city, is a huge understatement. We’ve already got a pretty long list going and I’m sure we’ll be adding to it faster than we cross them off.

Apartment searching was a great reason to head out and try a few restaurants in potential neighborhoods. Food after all, is a huge factor in picking out a spot to live…for us.

I’d been intrigued by M Cafe after seeing it many times on Lynn’s blog and I was really excited to try it out. For our inaugural trip (there will be many, many more) I tried the M Chopped salad which was wonderful. It had hearts of romaine & mixed greens, avocado, cucumber, chickpeas, herb-baked tofu, scallions, umeboshi pickled radishes, carrots, beets, tamari-roasted almonds, crumbled tempeh “bacon” & tofu-peppercorn ranch dressing.

All kinds of flavors and textures going on for a perfectly filling salad.

The great thing about macrobiotic food is that fish is a-ok (unlike vegan/vegetarian food) which makes the Taster very happy. He went with the Grilled Tuna Burger that was delicious. Not just any old tuna burger – a tuna burger glazed with teriyaki sauce & garnished with sliced avocado, pickled red onions, daikon sprouts, spicy yuzu mayo, fresh shiso leaf and served on a house-baked whole wheat bun.

Oh yes. You also get to pick your side dish with sandwiches and while I urged him to choose the Kale with Peanut Sauce, he went with the soba salad. Good, but I have a feeling the kale will be better.

Next time we visit M Cafe (which will be very soon – I just picked up a groupon for it) I’ll be getting the deli salad plate so that I can try that kale.

Last week on our crazy apartment hunting spree we stopped for coffee. (I think we’ve found a place by the way!!!) The line was so long after I placed my order that I decided to roam around the deli section of the grocery store. I came across this:

Even though I’m more of a eight to ten-a-day kind of girl, I like the idea of getting five servings of fruits and vegetables in during one meal. I also loved that they included some healthy fats and a bit of protein with the hummus, nut butter and seeds.

I decided that I needed to make my own version.

Eight A Day: 

• carrots (1 cup)
• peppers (1.5 cup)
• cucumbers (1.5 cup)
• apple slices (1 medium apple)
• hummus (4 Tbsp)
• almond butter (2 Tbsp)

Calories: 449

Protein: 13.5

Fiber: 14.4

Servings of Fruit & Veggies: about 8

I can’t believe it is already mid October! It was a hot, hot day in LA today. Abnormally hot although we still saw people with sweatshirts, coats, etc. I wonder if we will ever wear a sweatshirt when it is 90 degrees out…

Apartment searching is our main focus at this point, but after two straight days, we took the morning off.

The day started out with a walk – we walked around the neighborhood for about 40 minutes, including a stop for coffee.

Then it was time to work for a few hours – I munched on a bag of cashews, almonds and dried cranberries.

I wanted something light as I planned on going to yoga in a few short hours. Planned being the keyword, we left too late and didn’t make it in time. Tomorrow, it is. Since we were already in Santa Monica, we decided to explore a bit and take a walk on the beach. First though, we came across a Whole Foods Market.

One of the only things that could make me feel better about missing yoga (I needed yoga, even the Taster agreed) is a tour of a new Whole Foods and an early lunch. The salad bar was pretty phenomenal and I loaded my box with all lettuces (romaine, spring mix, spinach and kale) then topped with cabbage crunch, lemon tofu, broccoli rabb, roasted cauliflower and hummus. Perfect and the salad bar was $2 off per pound today so it was actually pretty reasonable!

Then we hit the beach for a quick walk, which was just what we needed. I must admit that the apartment hunting has been a little more stressful than I thought it would be. It seems like each place we go is missing one of the aspects we are looking for.

Then it was back to the apartment search and we looked at about 5 different places. Nothing great, but we have narrowed it down to two definite neighborhoods, which will hopefully make the process move a little quicker now.

A few hours after lunch, I was of course hungry, so I munched on an apple,

and then some triscuits.

After we returned to my cousins, it was time for pizza, salad and wine. (x2 on the food) Really good pizza – NYC style!

More work and I’m off to bed!

Cross your fingers that we find an apartment today!!

]]> http://anutritionisteats.com/daily-eats-10-12-11/feed/ 33 http://anutritionisteats.com/daily-eats-91311/ http://anutritionisteats.com/daily-eats-91311/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:00:21 +0000 Emily http://anutritionisteats.com/?p=8204

I’m officially in the midst of wedding-week madness. But besides a minor breakdown on Friday (it was just a very emotional day) I think I’ve been handling everything pretty well. Others may disagree.

Yesterday was filled with last minute errands and I declared it a day for myself!

The day started with some coffee and a gorgeous sunrise. I’m definitely going to miss this view.

Then it was time to drop off the Taster at work (we are a one car family) and start my other errands:

• body work appointment
• drop off dress to be pressed

Breakfast: In between the commute and errands I had a Two Moms in the Raw Bar – Gojiberry Granola – much better than I had expected although the first ingredient was agave and I’m not really a fan of that.

10:30 Yoga Sculpt – I was at a different studio than normal and it was a great class – I felt wonderful and the class flew by. Love those.

I’m a huge fan of coconut oil. And it always helps when it is organic and fair trade like Kelapo. I have a little more work before I’ve completely convinced my Dad that it isn’t as bad as it might outwardly appear (he works in Cardiac Rehab and they really don’t take too kindly to those high saturated fat levels) but I’ll be patient.

On the outside, coconut oil has gotten kind of a bad rap, but it’s rather dated information in my opinion. Many studies have been done and show that coconut oil can actually promote heart health, act as an antimicrobial, absorb nutrients and minerals and help fight the signs of aging. (And you know I’m a believer in everything in moderation anyway.)

I use coconut oil in many different ways – for popping pop corn, on Hemp Bagels, in baked goods, in stir-frys as well as in smoothies.  The flavor is slightly sweet and the texture luxurious. Summer is a perfect time for a tropical-tasting smoothie, full of good fats, don’t you think?

Orange Strawberry Smoothie

• 3/4 cup frozen strawberries
• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil

Blend ingredients together until somewhat smooth. The coconut oil will harden in little chunks, but I kind of like them while drinking my smoothie. When I’ve made it with a banana instead of berries it reminds me an orange julius.  :)

Have you tried coconut oil? Like it?

Disclaimer: Kelapo sent me coconut oil to review. The opinions are my own.

Wednesday 6.8.11

6:25 am: Realize I’ve overslept. Ugh. Roll out of bed and head downstairs for a quick, but intense 30 minutes on the elliptical. Thank the weather gods that it is no longer 103° and humid, I like to save those temps for hot yoga.

Stop by Caribou for daily coffee + coconut creamer…where they know my name. I like it.

Finish reading The Pioneer Woman’s Love Story during commute (not while I was driving of course) – fantastic book, I loved it!

Breakfast: 2 slices sprouted bread + earth balance + peanut butter

Lunch: Brown rice + chard + tofu topped with goddess dressing + sriracha (inspired by Eat Live Run) with a side of greens.

Wonder if I’ll be able to make it through the afternoon (my snack stash is seriously lacking at work.)

End up being so busy at work that I don’t even think about being hungry.

Head out and realize I’m hungry. Actually I totally planned it. Stop by Starbucks (because I had a gift card) and order a strawberry smoothie. They are out of bananas. Stare at the menu with no clue what to order. Order a coffee Frappuccino light, 2% milk. “Wait, what is the light Frappuccino mean?” I ask the barista. “Sugar-free.” “Scratch that, I’ll take a regular, 2%.”

Afternoon Snack #1: Drink about a third of it in the car/my personal library.

Visit a precious little baby and want one.

Sitting in traffic, I practice/plan out the yoga sculpt class I’ll be teaching at camp. I’ve found driving is the perfect time to do this, even though people probably wonder what I’m doing.

Come home starving so the Taster whips up some “Minnesota Sushi.”

Afternoon Snack #2: also known as ham, pickle and cream cheese roll-ups.

God I’m glad I grew up in the Midwest.

Dinner: cod + tartar sauce and broccolini (my favorite!)

Sometimes I like to eat a light dinner just so I can snack later, is that wrong?

Have trouble deciding between popcorn and gelato.

Why decide? Have both!

Evening Snack #1: Belgian Chocolate Gelato – few bites

Umm, why is this the first time I’ve had gelato?! It’s amazing!

Evening Snack #2: Popcorn + a little butter

Rough Calorie Estimate: 1,900

Thoughts on the day: Missing fruit and different colored veggie!